Apparatus for weight loading wicks prior to dipping of candles



July 2, 196s s. R. F. Y. BJoRcK 3,390,444

APPARATUS FOR WEIGHT LOADING WICKS PRIOR TO DIPPING OF CANDLES Filed June 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 2, 1968 s. R. F. Y. BJoRcK 3,390,444 APPARATUS FOR WEIGHT LOADING WICKS PRIOR TO DIPPING OF CANDLES Filed June 22. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS FIGB

United States Patent() 3,390,444 APPARATUS FOR WEIGHT LOADING WICKS PRIOR TO DIPPING F CANDLES Sverker R. F. Y. Biorck, Enskede, Sweden, assignor to Liljeholmens Stearinfabriks Aktiebolag, Stockholm,

Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 465,929 7 Claims. (Cl. 29-208) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for weight loading wicks prior to dipping the wicks for the manufacture of candles, including a base portion having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a removable wick clamp mounted on one side of the slot adapted to hold one end of a plurality of wick elements, a second and third wick clampingrneans mounted on the other side of the slot in spacedparallel relation Ato one vanother and adapted to guide the lengths of Wick temporarily and to thereafter clamp an intermediate portion of the wick length, a knife disposed between the second and third clamps to sever the wick lengths from a longer wick length at the -intermediate point just mentioned, a weight supporting structure mounted above the base and adapted to hold a plurality of stacks of discshaped weights having an annular groove thereabout, a feed means for feeding one Weight at a time from each stack, a slot means for receiving the released weight in a horizontal position, then turning it to a vertical position, a weight release at the bottom of the slot to release one weight at a time, a pivoted arm mountedv on the base which pivots to an uppermost position where it is adapted to receive the weight released from the shoot, to pivot downwardly and place the weight against the wick length stretched across the slot and continue its downward pivot to form a generally U-shaped length of wick equal to the length of two candles and a hydraulic means for operating the pivoted arm.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of candles. In a more specific aspect, the present invention relates to weight loading of candle wicks preparatory to the dipping of such wicks in the manufacture of candles.

In the manufacture of candles, it is the usual practice to fasten weights to the lower ends of a plurality of wick lengths, thereafter, hang the weighted wick lengths from the holding or dipping frame of a dipping device, and finally dip the weight-loaded wicks a plurality of times, in a molten candle-formin-g material, to build up a candle form about the wicks. Heretofore, the fastening of weights to the wick lengths and the hanging of the loaded wick lengths on the dipping frame has required a substantial amount of manual handling. In these prior operations, a number of wick lengths, substantially equal to the length of the candle to be manufactured, are mounted parallel to one another and perpendicular to two spaced sets of .parallel clamping bars or jam bars. One end of each of the wicks is clamped in one set of jam bars while the opposite end is clamped in the other set of jam bars. Thereafter, one set of the jam bars is mounted on the dipping frame while the other set of jam bars depends freely fromthe bottom of the wicks. A plurality `of such jam bars are spaced on the dipping frame and the entire assembly is dipped a plurality of times into molten stearine, petroleum wax, or other candle-forming material. Between each of such dipping steps the molten candle-forming material is allowed to cool for a predetermined time |before the next dipping operation in order to build the candle as a series of layers of candle-forming material. However, when the wicks "ice are suspended in the manner just described, it has been found that during the cooling periods the outer ones of the candle bodies -on the dipping frame shrink more than those arranged lin the center of the frame. Since the wick lengths are spaced in lines along the freely-hanging set `of jam bars, it has also been found that the inner candles have a tendency to bow to a certain extent `and have to be discarded. While certain of these disadvantages of the prior method of weighting wick lengths with elongated jam bars could be eliminated by the use of individual weights on each wick length, this is an even less desirable and more time-consuming method of applying weights.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for the manufacture of candles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for adding weights to the candle wicks preparatory to the formation of candles.

Another and further object vof the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for adding weights to wick lengths wherein a great deal Iof the manual handling of the wick lengths and the weights is eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved `apparatus for adding weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein an improved candle body is formed.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for adding weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein the outer candle bodies shrink substantially the same amount as the inner candle bodies during cooling.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an limproved apparatus for adding weights to Wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein bowing `of the inner candles of a plurality of candles, suspended from the dipping frame, is eliminated.

rYet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for adding weights -to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein the number of manual operations required is substantially reduced.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein a substantially automatic operation is accomplished.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when -read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein,

FIGURE l is a side view, partially in section, of a wick length stretched between jam members and illustrating the method of placing weights on the wick length; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a plurality of wick lengths stretched between the jam members of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view, partially in section, of the weights utilized in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a side view showing a wick length suspended from jam bars and having a weight depending therefrom;

FIGURE 5 shows a plan view, partially in section, of a set of jam bars for attachment of the wick lengths, just prior to the insertion of the wick lengths therein; FIGURE 6 is a plan view, partially in section, of a set of jam bars showing the jam bars in the position assumed after placement and clamping of the ends of the wick lengths therein;

FIGURE 7 shows a side elevational view, partially in section, of the set of jam bars shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a mechanism for applying weights to wick lengths in accordance with the present invention, with the side wall removed; and

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational View, partially iu section, of the apparatus of FIGURE 8.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawings, the details of the mounting of the wick lengths -in pairs of jam bars and the application of weights to the wick lengths are shown in these figures. In the subject drawings wick lengths 2 are shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4. In FIGURES 1 and 2 these wick lengths are shown as disposed in a horizontal position, primarly to illustrate the method in which the Weights are added. However, it should be recognized that FIGURES 1 and 2 also represent the basic position of the weight on the wick length when the Weights are applied to a taut wick length in accordance with the operation of the apparatus of FIGURES 8 and 9. Wick lengths 2 are substantially equal to twice the length of the candles to be formed plus the lengths required to mount the ends of the Wick lengths 2 in the sets of jam bars 4 and the length required to mount the weights 6 on the wick lengths. Therefore, each of wick lengths 2 will form a pair of candles. In FIGURES 1 and 2 the ends of Wick lengths 2 are attached to pairs of jam bars or clamp bars 4. One of the pairs of clamp bars 4 is attached to one end of each of the wick lengths 2 while the other of the pairs of clamp bars 4 is attached to the opposite end of the wick lengths 2. As shown in FIGURE 2 these jam bars 4 are, therefore, in parallel relation to one another and the wick lengths span the space between the jam bar sets, perpendicular to the jam bar sets and parallel to one another. Midway between the jam bar sets 4, weights 6 are mounted on each of wick lengths 2. The details of Weights 6 are shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. Specically, each of the weights 6 comprises a cylindrical disc portion 8 having annular groove 10 formed in its periphery. This annular groove 10 is adapted to receive wick lengths 2 and thereby suspend the weights 6 on the wick lengths, as hereinafter pointed out. Weights 6 also have formed through the center thereof an aperture 12. Aperture 12 permits the weights to be stacked on a shaft or spindle after molten candle-forming composition has been melted olf and the weights are to be stored or otherwise stacked. Also formed in the outer faces of weights 6 are turneddown depressions 14. The turned-down depressions 14 prevent the weights 6 from sti-cking together when the candle-forming composition is being removed from the weights by the application of heat. This depression or circular cutout 14 will also, obviously, prevent the weights 6 from sticking together due to the creation of a vacuum which might exist between the weights when they are stacked. FIGURE 4 of the drawings shows the pairs of jam bars 4, having the ends of wick lengths 2 clamped therein, brought up parallel to one another with the Wick lengths depending downwardly therefrom and weights 6 at the bottom of the generally U-shaped loop formed by wick lengths 2. FIGURE 4 thus represents the positioning of the wick lengths and weights when they are placed on a candle dipping frame. Specifically, the jam bar sets 4 are mounted on the holder or frame of a dipping device, such as the dipping apparatus described in co-pending U.S. application, Ser. No. 430,868, led by the present inventor, now Patent No. 3,256,567. Obviously, while the vertically-suspended wick lengths 2 are dipped into molten cadle-forming materials, candles will form about the vertically-disposed portions of wick lengths 2 to form two candles. Thus, the reason for having wick lengths 2 equal in length to at least the length of two of the candles to be formed becomes obvious. FIGURES 5 through 7 illustrate the details of the jam bar sets 4. FIGURE 5 shows the jam bar sets 4 with their ends terminating at the same point. .lam bar sets 4 are made up of two like jam bars 16 and 18, respectively. Jam bars 16 and 18 are held together in longitudinal, sliding engagement by a bolt 20 passing through each of the jam bars and having a washer 22 on the side opposite the head of bolt 20 and a ange 24 formed on a projecting end of bolt 20. Between washer 22 and ange 24 is a compression-type spring 26 which serves to bias jam bars 16 and 18 into frictional engagement with one another and hold them in this position to permit sliding engagement of jam bars 16 and 18. jam bar 18 has a hole formed therethrough just suficient to accommodate the shaft of bolt 20 while jam bar 16 has an elongated opening 28. Thus, jam bar 16 can be slid longitudinally relative to jam bar 18 while the jam bars are held in frictional contact with one another `by biasing spring 26. FIGURE 5 shows jam bars 16 and 18 in their initial position adapted to receive the end of a wick length. To receive a Wick length jam bars 16 and 18 have formed in their upper edges notches 30 and 32, respectively. When the ends of jam bars 16 and 18 are evenly disposed as shown in FIGURE 5, notches 30 and 32 in the jam bars are aligned thereby permitting one to pass a wick length through the two notches. Thereafter, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, jam bar 16 is slid longitudinally to the left to thereby clamp the wick length between the jam bars by moving the notches 30 and 32 to positions offset from one another. This offsetting of notches 30 and 32 clamps a portion of the Wick length between the edges of notches 30 and 32 and the portions of jam bars 16 and 18 which lie between the offset notches 30 and 32. Thus, it may be seen that a simple and convenient method and apparatus for clamping a Wick length is provided while at the same time also providing a simple and convenient method and apparatus for suspending the weight from a double-length Wick.

The automatic or semiautomatic application of weights 6 to wick lengths 2 and the mounting of the wick lengths in sets of jam bars or clamping means 4, as well as the measuring and cutting of the appropriate wick length, are illustrated by the apparatus of FIGURES 8 and 9. Where convenient and where clarity of description appears to dictate, numbers corresponding to those used in the previous description of the drawings will be utilized in connection with the description of FIGURES 8 and 9. It should also ybe recognized with regard to FIGURES 8 and 9, that the right and left hand sides of the apparatus are mirror images of one another, with the exception of the hydraulic cylinders. In FIGURES 8 and 9 the apparatus comprises `a main frame structure 34; including, a top wall 36, a bottom wall 38, a left side Wall 40, and a horizontallydisposed support 42 mounted on side wall 40 adjacent the center of the frame. Attached to base 38 is U-shaped angle 44. Angle 44 is adapted to support a pivot mount 46. Pivotally mounted on mount 46 is a hydraulicallyactuated or air cylinder 48. Air cylinder 4S is adapted to describe a vertical arc about the pivot of mount 46 and to extend in a general upward direction. Air cylinder 48 has disposed therein a piston element 50; and, attached to piston element 50, is piston rod 52. The free end of piston rod 52 is pivotally mounted to link 54. Link 54 is in turn xedly attached to rotation bar 56. Rotation bar 56 is mounted to pivot or rotate in side wall 48. Accordingly, by actuating hydraulic cylinder 43, pivot bar 56 may be rotated about tis horizontally-disposed central axis. Fixedly attached to pivot -bar 56 is arm 58 which is disposed in a generally vertical plane. Arm 58, as may be seen, can be rotated by bar 56 through a vertically-disposed arcuate path. Mounted on the free end of arm S8 is elongated, weight receiving chamber 62. Weight receiving chamber 62 is horizontally disposed and has spaced therealong a plurality of three-sided pockets of a size sucient to receive individual weights 6. Receiving chamber 62 is mounted to rotate in arm 58 and has formed on one free end which passes through arm 58 a pinion gear 64. Pinion gear 64 cooperates with rack means 66. Rack means 66 is attached to the free end of piston rod 68 which in turn is attached to piston 70 of an air cylinder 72. Air cylinder 72 is in turn mounted on arm 58. Thus, by operating air cylinder 72, the pinion and rack, 64 and 66, will rotate receiving chamber 62, for purposes which will hereinafter be described. Depending from top wall 36 and positioned immediately above the pockets in receiving chamber 62 are a plurality of weight receiving magazines 74. Each of weight receivingy magazines 74 is disposed above a pocket in receiving chamber 62 and thus may drop weights 6 into the pockets, as hereinafter described. Mounted along and adjacent the bottom sides of magazines 74 is a weight release means 76. Weight release means 76 is mounted to arcuately move or rock relative to the sides of magazines 74. Accordingly, release means 76 is normally biased with its upper end away from the sides of magazines 74 by a means of biasing spring 78. Release means 76 also has formed adjacent its lower edge stop tabs 80 which pass into or cross the bottoms of each of the magazines 74. Stop tabs 80 prevent weights 6 from normally dropping from magazines 74. However, when the free end of arm 58 is in its uppermost position, plunger element 82 rocks release means 76 so as to overcome the tension of biasing spring 78 and move the bottom of release means 76 away from the magazines 74 and the top into engagement with magazines 74. Thus, when plunger 82 on arm 58 pushes against release means 76, release means 76 is rocked to pull tabs 80 away from the bottom-most weights 6, thereby dropping these weights into receiving chamber 62. However, at the same time, another stop tab 84 projects into the magazines 74 when the top of bar 76 is rocked inwardly, thereby preventing more than one of the weights 6 from dropping from magazines 74. When the arm 58 is lowered and plunger 82 is out of contact with bar 76, bar 76 will assume its normal position with biasing spring 78 biasing the top stop S4 out of engagement with the weights in magazines 74 and the bottom stop 80 into engagement with the bottom of the lower-most of weights 6. Accordingly, a weight will be dropped into the lower-most position when bar 76 rocks back into its normal position. Magazines 74 flare outward horizontally to form upper openings sufficient in size to receive a horizontally-disposed weight. Thus, a weight may enter the top in a horizontal position and then, due to the flaring curvature of magazines 74, turn to a vertical position as it drops toward the bottom of the magazine. To feed weights 6 into magazines 74, stacks of weights 86 are disposed midway between the staggered magazines 74. A hole in the bottom of weight support 88 permits the weights to drop to a position between support 88 and top wall 36. Slide element 90 is disposed in this space also. Element 90l has formed therein holes 92 sufficient in size to pass a weight therethrough. When slide 90 is in its normal position, holes 92 are disposed above the forward-most of magazines 74. Slide 90 is attached to the free end of a piston rod 94 which in turn has formed on its other end a piston 96, all mounted in an air cylinder 98. Air cylinder 98 is mounted on top wall 36. When air cylinder 98 is operated, slide 90 is pushed forwardly to thereby drop weights from the stacks into holes 92. Further movement of slide 90 drops these weights into the forward set of magazines 74. Then on the return stroke another group of weights drops into holes 92 and these weights then drop into the rearward set of receiving magazines 74. Mounted on central support 42 and adjacent side wall 40 is jam bar receiving block 100. Jam bar receiving block 100 has formed therein a groove 102 adapted to receive a jam bar pair 104. Jam bar pair 104 forms the forward-most support for the wick lengths, as hereinafter pointed out. Rearward of jam bar 104 and mounted on central support 42 is receiving block 106. Receiving block 106 has formed in its upper-surface slots 108 and 110` which are adapted to receive a set of jam bars 112 and a rear-most set of jam bars 114..Disposed rearwardly of the jam bars 104, 112, and 114 are a plurality of spindles of wick-forming material 116. Operatively mounted above receiving block 6 and adapted to pass into block 106 between jam bars 112 and 114 is a horizontally-slidable knife 118.

The operation of the device will now be explained with reference to FIGURES 8 and 9. First, lengths of wick are drawn from spindles 116 through slots 30 and 32 in the jam bars 114, 112, and 104. The free end of each wick length is then clamped between jam bar pair 104 by sliding the pair of jam bars longitudinally with respect to one another as previously described. The opposite end of wick lengths 2, however, is still attached to the original length of wicking on spindles 1.16. Assuming that the magazines 74 are lled with weights 6, as previously described, and air cylinder 48 is returning to its collapsed condition to rotate bar 56 and pivot arm 58 to its upper-most position adjacent magazines 74, plunger 82 will trip release means 76 releasing the lower-most ones of the weights 6 from chambers 74 and dropping these weights into receiving chamber 62. Air cylinder 48 is then actuated to begin lowering the free end of arm 58. As arm 58 is lowered, release means 76 is released closing magazines 74 at their lower-most end and dropping the weights 6 downwardly one position to again place a weight in a lower-most position. Substantially simultaneously with the beginning of the lowering of arm 58, air cylinder 72 is lactuated to operate pinion and rack 64 and 66 and rotate receiving chamber 62. Receiving chamber 62 is rotated through substantially 180 and such rotation is completed by the time the chamber reaches it lower-most position. As arm 58 then continues downwardly, the weights 6 are resting on wick lengths 2 `with the wick lengths in the slot 10 in the periphery of weights 6. By forcing these weights downwardly against the wick lengths 2, the wick lengths are drawn downwardly to their predetermined length as shown by the dashed lines of FIGURE 8. Thus, when arm 58 reaches its lower-most position, a weight has been placed in the center of each of the wick lengths, and the wick lengths have been drawn to their nished or operative length where they will form two full-length candles in their vertically-disposed positions. When arm 58 has reached its lower-most position and wick lengths 2 are extended to their full predetermined length, clamp bar or jam bar set 112 is operated to clamp the portion of the wick length passing through slots 30 and 32 of that jam bar set between the jam bars. Similarly, the jam bars of jam bar set 114 are horizontally said relative to one another to clamp the portion of the wick lengths passing through slots 30 and 32 of that set of jam bars between the two jam bars. Then knife 118 is slid to cut the wick material stretched between the jam bar sets 112 and 1.14. Arm 58 is then raised to its upper-most position where the cycle is repeated. With arm 58 in its uppermost position, the jam bars 104 and 112 are removed together with the weights 6 which are disposed on the wick'lengths and these jam bars are then placed in parallel relationship on a dipping frame as previously described and in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The jam bar set 114 which now has the free ends of the wicking material from spindles 116 clamped in this 1am bar set is then moved to the forward-most position in receiving block 102. New jam bar sets are placed in receiving block 106, and the wick material 2 is then in position for a repeat operation of forming the wick lengths and applying the Iweights thereto.

While each of the operations has been described as a single operation, and while each may b e performed by hand, it is also within the purview of the present invention to perform each of these operations mechanically and in accordance with a predetermined program. For example, the actuation of air cylinders 48, 72, and 9S can be appropriately timed so that the machine will automatically perform each of the functions performed by these air cylinders. This then will leave only the clamping of the wick lengths Ibetween appropriate jam bar sets for the operator to perform. However, it should also be recognized that this operation can be performed mechanically by appropriate lever means adapted to slide the jam bars relative to one another and into clamping engagement on the wicking. Likewise, the sliding of knife 118 and the severing of the wicking between jam bar sets 112 and 114 can also be performed by an appropriate mechanism. All of these latter operations can also be programmed into the machine so that ultimately the entire operation can be programmed to operate automatically and all that the operator need do is replace the spindles of wicking 116 and thread the machine with the wicking when the supply of wicking is exhausted, replenish the supply of weights in the stacks 86 when these are depleted, and replace the jam bars between cycles. Other variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art and can be readily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims- I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) a main frame structure; including, a top wall, `a bottom wall, side walls, and .a horizontally-disposed, central support means across said structure adjacent the center thereof;

(rb) a weight support attached to said top wall in vertically-shaped relation thereto and having a row of holes therethrough of suicient size to pass a horizontally-disposed, disc-shaped weight through each of said holes;

(c) a at slide means, slidably positioned between said top wall and said weight support and having a row of holes therethrough of size suicient to pass said weights therethrough and adapted to register with said holes in said supports when Said slide means is slid between said top wall and said weight support;

(d) piston means attached to said top wall and having its piston rod operatively connected to said slide means to move said slide means forwardly and rearwardly to position said holes in said slide means on one side of said holes in said weight support at one extreme of its movement and on the opposite side of said holes in said weight support at the other extreme of its movement;

(e) said top wall having two rows of holes therethrough of a size suicient to pass said weights therethrough each of said rows being spaced from one another and registerable with said holes in said slide means when said slide means is positioned at each of the two extremes of its movement;

(f) weight magazine means including a plurality of tubes equal in number to the number of holes in said top wall;

(g) said tubes depending downwardly from said top wall, having their top ends in open communication with said holes and adapted to receive said weights in a horizontal position, thereafter tapering inwardly and downwa-rdly to turn said weights to vertical planes, having bottom openings adapted to sequentially discharge weights from said magazine and terminating along a substantially straight line;

(h) weight stop means operatively connected to said magazine adjacent the lower ends of said tubes and including rst stop means adapted to normally prevent -the lower-most weights in said tubes from dropping therefrom and second stop means adapted to prevent the weights immediately above the lowermost weights in said tubes from dropping to said lower-most position when said stop means is actuated to permit said lower-most weights to drop from said tubes and until said stop means returns to its normal position;

(i) irst slotted support means, for releasably holding a iirst elongated clamp means having attached thereto the terminal ends of a plurality of parallel spaced wick lengths, mounted atop said central support means and on one side of an elongated slot formed in said central support means;

(j) second slotted support means, for releasably holding a pair of second and third elongated clamp means in a position parallel to one another and parallel to said first clamp means, mounted atop said cent-ral support means and on the other side of said slot in said central support means;

(k) spindle means, adapted to receive spindles of wickforming material and stretch said wick lengths horizontally from said first clamp means and thence through said second and third clamp means, mounted on top of said central support means;

(l) knife means disposed above said second slotted support means and disposed between said second and third clamp means and sever the wicking material passing between said second and third clamp means;

(m) rotation bar means rotatably supported beneath said intermediate support means and in the side walls of said frame structure;

(n) elongated pivot arm means having one end Xedly attached to said rotation bar, adapted to rotate through a vertically-disposed, arcuate plane forming an acute angle from a point above said central support means to a point a predetermined distance below said central support means;

(o) piston means mounted on said bottom wall of said frame structure and operatively connected to said rotation bar to rotate said rotation bar and move the free end of said pivot arm through said arcuate plane;

(p) elongated weight receiving means rotatably mounted on the free end of said pivot arm and having a plurality of pockets formed along its length, immediately below said open lower ends of said tubes of said magazine means, each adapted to receive a Weight in a vertical plane from each of said tubes;

(q) tripping means mounted atop said arm means adjacent the free end thereof and adapted to move said release means to thus disengage said rst stop means from the lower-most Weights in said tubes of said magazine and thereby drop said lower-most weight into said pockets in said receiving means and simultaneously move said second stop means into contact with the next higher weights immediately above said lower-most weights and prevents said next higher weights from dropping to said lowermost position;

(r) rotation means operatively connected to said receiving means and adapted to rotate said receiving means through substantially of rotation as said pivot arm moves from its upper-most to its lowermost position and to thereby drop the weights disposed in said pockets of said receiving means onto said horizontally-disposed wick lengths and press said wick length downwardly to a generally U-shaped conguration as said arm moves said receiving means through said slot in said central support means to the lower-most position of said arm; and

(s) piston means attached to said arm and operatively connected to said rotation means.

2. Apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, cornprising:

(a) means for releasably holding a rst clamp attached to the free en-d of at least one horizontallydisposed wick length;

(b) means for pressing said wick length downwardly to form a generally U-shaped loop, having each of its side legs at least equal in length to the predetermined length of the candles to be formed, and placing a weight in the interior of the base of said loop;

(c) means for releasably holding second and third clamps in a position parallel -to and at the s-ame vertical position as sa-id first clamp and parallel to one another, whereby Isaid second and third clamps may be attached to the leg of said loop opposite the leg to whcih said tirst clamp is attached;

(d) knife means disposed -above and between said second and third clamps and adapted to lsever said wick -length at a point between said second and third clamps;

(e) magazine means disposed above said means for pressing Ithe wick length downwardly and placing a weight in said loop and adapted to releasably store a plurality of weights;

(f) release means adjacent the lower end of said magazine and adapted to release one weight at a time from said magazine when actuated and drop said weight into said means for pressing the wick .length downwardly and placing a weight -in said loop; and,

(g) loading means disposed above said magazine means an-d adapted to drop said weight into said magazine.

3. Apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation lof candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) means of at lea-st one horizontally-disposed wick length;

(b) means for pressing said Wick length downwardly to form a generally U-shaped loop, having each of its side legs at least equal lin length to the predetermined length of the candles to be formed, and placing a weight in the interior of the base of said loop;

(c) means for releasably holding second and third `clamps in a position parallel to and at the same vertical position -as said rst clam-p and parallel to one another, whereby said second and third clamps may be attached to the leg of said loop opposite the leg to which said first clamp is attached;

(d) magazine means disposed above said means for pressing the wick length downwar-dly and placing a weight in said loop and adapted to releasably store a plurality of weights;

(e) release means on the lower end of said magazine and adapted Ito release one weight at a time from said magazine when actuated and drop said weight into said means for pressing t-he wick length downwardly and placing a weight in said loop; and,

(f) loading means disposed above sai-d magazine means and adapted to drop said weight into said magazine.

4. Apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) means for releasable holding a rst clamp attached to the free end of at least one horizontally-disposed wick length;

(b) means for pressing said wick length downwardly to form a generally U-shaped loop, having each of its side legs at least equal in length to the predetermined -length of the candles to be formed, yand placing a weight in the interior of the base of said loop;

(c) means for releasably holding second and third clamps in a position parallel to and at the same-vertical position -as said first clamp and parallel to one another, whereby said second and `third clamps may be attached to the leg of said loop opposite the leg to which said first clamp -is attached;

(d) magazine means disposed [above said means for pressing Ithe wick length downwardly .and placing a weight in said loop and adapted to releasably store a plurality of weights', and,

(e) release means on the lower end of said magazine and adapted to release one weight at a time from said magazine when actuated and drop said weight into said means for pressing the weight length downwardly and placing a weight in said loop.

5. Apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) means for releasably holding a first clamp attached to the free end of at least one horizontally-disposed wick length;

(b) means for pressing said wick length downwardly to form a generally U-shaped loop, having each of its side legs at least equal in length to the predetermined length of the candles to be formed, and placing a weight in the interior of the base of said loop; and

(c) means for releasably holding second and third clamps in a position parallel to and at the same vertical position as said first clamp and parallel to one another, whereby said second and third clamps may be attached on the leg of said loop opposite the leg to which said rst clamp is attached.

6. Apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) first holding means for holding one end of at least one wick length;

(b) second holding means for guiding said rwick length and for holding said wick length at a later, predetermined time, mounted generally parallel to said first holding means to guide said wick length in a generally horizontal plane across the space between said tirst and second holding means and perpendicular thereto;

(c) means for placing a weight on the top of said horizontally-disposed wick length; and

(d) means for pressing said wick length downwardly to form a generally U-shaped loop having said weight suspended in the base of said loop.

7. Apparatus for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) first holding means for holding one end of at least one wick length;

(b) second holding means, for guiding said wick length and for holding said wick length at a latter, predetermined time, mounted generally parallel to said first holding means to guide said wick length in a generally horizontal plane across the space between said first and second holding means and perpendicular thereto; and

(c) means`for pressing said wick length downwardly to form a generally U-Shaped loop and placing a weight in the base of said loop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 319,156 6/1885 Werk 18--27 710,806 10/1902 Rubsam 18-27 803,847 11/1905 Pereira 18-24 828,033 8/1906 Lachman 219-93 1,555,771 9/1925 Stenz 29-159 2,906,013 9/1959 Kass 29-278 3,026,924 3/1962 Lunt et al. 29-202.5 3,034,174 5/1962 Krane et al. 18-1 3,130,484 4/1964 Zdanis 29-203 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner'. 

